The Wild (1-2) busted down the flood gates and blew the game open in the third period with all four goals.

Erik Haula re-directed a long saucer pass from Justin Fontaine into the net behind Corey Crawford to get the scoring started one minute and 41 seconds into the third period. Haula had a breakaway opportunity earlier in the game, but could not get a shot off because of the back check of Duncan Keith.

“I was just thinking in my head that hopefully I would get another chance to bury one,” Haula said. “Fontaine made a great play for me to do that.”

Sloppy play through the 40-plus minutes of the game, quickly turned into end-to-end action. The Wild took advantage three minutes and 33 seconds after Haula’s goal when Mikael Granlund finished off a odd-man rush from Jason Pominville and Zach Parise. Granlund received a cross-ice pass from Pominville and cut across the slot before lifting a backhand shot into the open net.

Parise later added an insurance power play goal with two minutes and 35 seconds remaining in the game.

Granlund added an empty-net goal with one minute and 18 seconds later after Nino Niederreiter and Charlie Coyle created space to make a pass to an open player.

Bryzgalov stopped 19 shots for his first playoff shutout since May of 2006. He gave credit to the players in front of him and the defense they played on the high-powered Blackhawks offense.

“We knew it was a very important game for us,” Bryzgalov said. “We played very well. Lots of guys sacrificed. Lots of guys did the right things to win the game.

“Sometimes there were three forwards laying down, blocking the shot, build the wall. Whatever it takes so the puck doesn’t go through the net

The Blackhawks (2-1) were shut down in the third period. They pushed the play after falling behind early in the final period, but registered just four shots on goal and 16 shot attempts.

The two teams resume their series Friday for Game 4 at the Xcel Energy Center.

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Joseph has a Bachelor's of Arts in Media Production with an emphasis in Print Journalism from Hastings College in Hastings, Neb. While at Hastings College, he was a part of the first collegiate media group to broadcast a national tournament via television, radio, internet and newspaper at the 2004 NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Tournament. He grew up playing football, baseball and hockey. Send Joe a note.